PAYDAY 3: Update 2.5 Changelog – Skills 2.0

New Feature - Skills 2.0

It's been a long time coming, but Skills 2.0 is finally here!

This FREE update to PAYDAY 3 completely revamps the skill system, providing heisters even more ways to create the perfect build.

Want to take a look at the new skills while your game updates? Check out our Skills 2.0 Simulator!

Features

• New Skill System

  • Completely replaces the old system

  • Removes EDGE/GRIT/RUSH buffs

  • New format, classic “tree” shape

  • 51 maximum points, fully unlocked at infamy level 150

  • There’s a Skill Simulator on our website

• Players can now throw bags at enemies to make them stagger

• The default ‘mask up’ key has been changed from the grenade button to the shoot button to prevent accidental grenade discharges caused by going loud

• Fixed a bug of where Achievements & Challenges were not being tracked or completed

Gameplay

• Player won't get stuck if running into vault doors that still have the drill attached

• Interceptor no longer permanently blocks radios from activating on intimidated guards

• Fixed an issue where being tased when throwing a knife, blocked the ability to throw for the rest of the heist

• The Interceptor Overkill weapon will now appear as locked when joining a loud game as a drop-in player

• Fixed an issue where the Techie's drones would stop spawning

• Updated text on Daily Challenge to clarify that "Secure a total of 30 loot bags" only counts the ones secured personally by the player

• Completing 3 Daily Challenges in one heist will now award the correct amount of C stacks

• Fixed bug when QR codes were not synced after a player leaves and rejoins

Technical Changes

• Fixed a rare cloth simulation crash when starting as Dallas, and switching preferred characters

• Updated the XeSS version from 2.0.2 to 2.1.1.1

• Dropped Overkill weapons are now easier to pick up

• Steam players will no longer crash the game when enabling crossplay setting during a party session

Art

• Added flying money bills VFX when picking up and throwing certain loot bags

• Chains will no longer clip through his short sleeves when performing a melee attack

Audio

• Fixed a rare issue where background audio at the waterfront wouldn't play all the ambience

Heist Changes

General

• Helicopters no longer pitch forward when in hover

Touch the Sky

• Fixed an issue where players would spawn crouched

Delivery Charge

• Fixed an issue where adding favours could spawn more than 2 Wixia containers

• Removed clipping from a police van

• Added additional QR phones on lower difficulties, two extra when playing Normal and Hard, one extra when playing Very Hard

Weapon Balance Changes

We have adjusted the damage of many of the weapons to balance them alongside the new skill system.

Close/Medium/Far: Damage dependent on distance from target.
AP: Armor Penetration.

⚠️ Known Issues

• Using an old version of the “PD3 Logic Mod” by Narknon and HW12Dev will prevent the new skills from functioning properly. There’s already an update to the mod, so downloading the latest version will prevent the issue

• Aced ‘On the Run’ skill in the “Ghost” tree can cause players to lose their reload ability when doing multiple inputs at the same time

• Stealth music doesn’t properly switch between stages in Delivery Charge. Note: Normally, heist music escalates as you progress through the heist, that is what currently isn’t working correctly

• The ‘Mechanic’ skill in the “Shotgun” tree only provides its damage reduction during reload and not for 1 second after as stated

• Headshots against armor do not currently provide a damage multiplier. While the current version of the game is balanced with that in mind, a fix is coming as part of larger changes to armor and HP later down the line

• Shotgun damage is displayed as the full maximum possible damage if all pellets hit, instead of the standard “nr of pellets x damage”

• The Justicar does less damage when within 2 meters (~6.5 feet) instead of more

• The bonus from the Mercenary armor frame — damage immunity for 2 seconds after a plate breaks — currently applies to all armor frames.